Census Bureau Cuts Red Tape in Trade Rules
Published Date: 3/30/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting March 30, 2026, the Census Bureau is making its foreign trade rules simpler and easier to follow by cutting out extra references and combining similar sections. This change helps businesses and officials save time and money without changing any actual trade responsibilities. If you deal with U.S. export controls or customs, these updates will make your job smoother and clearer!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Five-year export recordkeeping requirement
Sec. 30.15 confirms that records related to a shipment must be kept for five years from the date of export. It also says records about license exceptions or exemptions must be kept in the format required by the agency that controls the license.
Streamlined export rules for clarity
Starting March 30, 2026, the Census Bureau consolidated and simplified Parts 30.15–30.19 into a single Sec. 30.15 and removed Secs. 30.16–30.19. If you work with exports, the rule aims to make the foreign trade regulations easier to follow and reduce unnecessary language so officials and businesses can find the controlling agency rules more directly.
No new paperwork under PRA
The rule states that it will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. That means the amendment itself does not add any new federal paperwork duties beyond existing requirements.
Export control and reporting duties reaffirmed
The rule restates that the Electronic Export Information (EEI) is used for statistical and export control purposes and requires all parties to an export transaction to comply with relevant export control and licensing regulations. USPPIs and authorized agents remain responsible for following other agencies' reporting rules in addition to the statistical requirements.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14512, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions
The Census Bureau wants to keep running its Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions for three more years and is asking the public to share their thoughts by September 18, 2026. This survey helps track new home building and sales, affecting builders, buyers, and policymakers. No big changes or costs are planned, just a smooth continuation to keep housing data fresh and useful.
2026-14513, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders (M3) Survey
The Census Bureau wants to keep collecting monthly info from U.S. manufacturers about their shipments, inventories, and orders through the M3 survey. They’re asking the public to share thoughts by September 18, 2026, before they get final approval. This helps keep the data flowing without adding extra hassle or cost to businesses.
2026-14554, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing
The Census Bureau wants to keep testing online surveys and internet panels to make sure their questions work well and don’t waste your time. They’re asking for your thoughts by September 18, 2026, before getting final approval. This helps keep surveys smart, quick, and less annoying for everyone involved, with no extra cost or big time changes.
2026-13801, Age Search Fee Structure
Starting August 7, 2026, the Census Bureau is raising the Age Search fee from $65 to $155 and the rush fee from $20 to $50. This service helps people get official proof of their age from old census records, especially if they don’t have a birth certificate. These changes cover the real costs of processing requests, which haven’t been updated since 2004.
2026-11886, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
The Census Bureau wants your thoughts on a new survey about workforce training programs run by the Department of Commerce. This survey will help improve how they track and support people in these programs, with no cost to participants. You’ve got until August 11, 2026, to share your feedback before the survey gets the green light from the Office of Management and Budget.
2026-11293, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS)
The Census Bureau is asking to keep collecting housing vacancy info every month without changes. About 59,000 landlords, rental agents, and neighbors help by sharing quick updates on empty homes, which helps everyone understand the housing market better. This survey keeps running smoothly with no extra cost or time burden, and you’ve got 30 days to share your thoughts!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-06086, Amendment of Class D Airspace; Teterboro, NJ
The FAA is updating the official location coordinates for Teterboro Airport’s Class D airspace in New Jersey. This change won’t affect the airspace size or how pilots operate there. The update takes effect on July 9, 2026, and won’t cost anyone extra or change any rules.
Next: 2026-06176, Rules Regarding Off-the-Record Procedures
The Postal Regulatory Commission updated its rules to clearly explain what kinds of informal, off-the-record talks can happen before hearings, like settlement or technical conferences. These chats won’t count as secret communications if everyone gets a heads-up and a chance to join. The new rules kick in on April 30, 2026, helping make the process smoother and fairer for everyone involved.